XN000022-1983-01-05 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5, 1983

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HELP FOR STREET SLEEPERS

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PRIORITY IN ALLOCATION OF ACCOMMODATION TO STREET SLEEPERS HAD TO BE GIVEN TO THOSE WHO ARE ELDERLY OR DISABLED, AND STEADY PROGRESS IS BEING MADE IN REHOUSING THEM, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID THAT THERE WERE ABOUT 1 000 STREET SLEEPERS IN HONG KONG AT THE END OF NOVEMBER LAST YEAR.

+THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, TOGETHER WITH OTHER GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, ALREADY PROVIDES SERVICES TO THOSE STREET SLEEPERS WHO ARE IN NEED AND WHO ARE WILLING TO ACCEPT HELP, MR ALLEYNE SAID.

THESE SERVICES INCLUDE TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION, COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, REFERRALS FOR EMPLOYMENT AND COUNSELLING.

+OF THESE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND ACCOMMODATION ARE THE TWO MAIN SERVICES PROVIDED. HOWEVER, PUBLIC HOUSING IS OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE IN LOCATIONS SUCH AS YAU MA TEI, EASTERN AND WAN CHAI, SHAM SHU PO AND WESTERN DISTRICTS WHERE MOST STREET SLEEPERS ARE TO BE FOUND, HE SAID.

MR ALLEYNE SAID HE BELIEVED THERE WERE ALREADY ADEQUATE LEGAL POWERS TO CLEAR AWAY RUBBISH CREATED BY STREET SLEEPERS AND TO REMOVE ANY OF THEM CAUSING OBSTRUCTIONS OR DISTURBING THE PEACE.

+BUT THE RESULTS IN THE END WOULD STILL BE THAT THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO SLEEP OUTDOORS SOMEWHERE UNLESS THEY CAN BE PERSUADED TO ACCEPT THE OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE MADE TO THEM, AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO TRY AND DO THIS, HE SAID,

REDEVELOPMENT OF PRE-WAR BUILDINGS

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THE LONG-TERM ANSWER TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT OF OLD RESIDENTIAL AREAS IS THE IR REDEVELOPMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH TOWN PLANS, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON WONG PO-YAN, HE SAID THAT WHILE THE PRESENT PRE-WAR BUILDINGS WITH THEIR INADEQUATE SANITATION CONTINUE TO EXIST. THE BEST THAT COULD BE DONE WAS TO SEE THAT GOVERNMENT AND URBAN COUNCIL SERVICES WOULD OPERATE IN THESE AREAS AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE.

/IN ADDITION